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Trustees approve notice to publish proposed Natrona County parks rules and fee increases
Summary
After extensive review, trustees voted to publish a 45‑day notice of intent to adopt updated park rules and a separate fee schedule; staff recommended the fee increases to address costs not covered since 2012 and to align with regional comparables.
Natrona County parks trustees voted to publish a notice of intent to adopt updated park rules and a companion fee schedule, initiating a public comment window and a later ratification meeting.
Parks staff presented a consolidated draft of updated rules and an accompanying fees document. Michael Brown, speaking for parks staff, said the department had not increased many fees since 2012 and recommended stepped increases to help cover operating costs. “These fees have not been increased since 2012,” Brown said, adding that trail passes and camping fees still lag comparable charges at other regional providers.
Trustees discussed the process. County Attorney Heather and legal staff advised that the rules require a public-notice period (commonly 45 days) before permanent adoption; fees can be published and handled as a separate adopted schedule or as an attachment to the rules. Brown and other staff explained practical timing issues for reservations: because camping reservations open on a 90‑day advance window, delaying adoption could create a transition in which some users reserve at the lower rate before a new schedule takes effect during peak season.
The board debated whether to adopt fee increases immediately on an emergency basis to smooth the transition. Counsel said that emergency adoption is possible but typically requires articulation of an emergency rationale; trustees decided instead to proceed with the standard public-notice process. Trustees directed staff to publish the proposed rules and fees and to schedule a public meeting at the end of the notice period to consider ratification and to take public comment.
The proposed rule changes are substantive in several areas: clarifying definitions (for example, separating ORV/MPV definitions and treating golf carts by resolution), adding a seasonal-closure definition, aligning abandoned-vehicle language with statute, clarifying permitted uses and camping reservation rules (including whether multiple camping units may be allowed at certain sites), and updating public-safety and penalty language. The parks director’s discretionary authority appears throughout the draft; trustees asked staff to add “or designee” in places where the parks director exercises authority so that enforcement and authorization can continue if the director is unavailable.
Trustees also discussed specific items during review: golf carts will be governed by a separate resolution as required by statute; the parks department and sheriff’s office discussed enforcement limits and whether open containers or accidents involving golf carts could trigger criminal charges; staff clarified that motorized watercraft must be launched from designated ramps to avoid unintentionally prohibiting nonmotorized launches; and the parks department added a deposit for the Nordic Ski Lodge (Casper Mountain Trail Center).
A motion by Trustee Laird, seconded by Trustee Coats, to publish the notice of intent to adopt the rules and to publish the proposed fees passed on a voice vote. The board agreed to schedule a follow-up meeting for ratification and public comment at the end of the published comment period.
Ending
The trustees authorized publication of the draft rules and the fee schedule and directed staff to implement public notice and arrange a successor meeting for formal adoption after public comment.
